The newly-elected mayor, deputy mayor, ward chairpersons and ward members of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) were administered the oath of office and secrecy amid a function at City Hall on Wednesday.

A total of 159 newly-elected people’s representatives, including Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya and Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadki, were sworn in by Dipendra Adhikari, chief election officer of Kathmandu district. 

Shakya, who was elected the KMC Mayor with 64,913 votes, said he would move forward by coordinating with all the political parties in the next five years.

Deputy Mayor Khadki said she would give her best to work for the protection of women and their rights.

Later in the afternoon, the newly-elected office bearers of the KMC held their first board meeting where they made an 11-point decision, including the launching of ‘Clean the City’ campaign which has been accorded top priority on the new mayor’s to do list. 

At a press conference held at the KMC Office in JDA Complex, Sundhara afterwards, Shakya said the citizens of the metropolis would feel positive changes. 

Under the ‘Clean the City’ campaign, the metropolis would manage waste generated from homes and wards before sunrise, according to the decision.

As per the work plans announced on Wednesday, the metropolis would build several infrastructure in a bid to make Kathmandu a ‘24-hour Open City’, which includes immediate construction of public toilets. Besides, free wi-fi facility will be made available at the sites of cultural, historic, religious importance, major tourist and public areas and public parks, the metropolis has declared. 

Shakya announced that the KMC would provide elderly citizens—males above 80 and females above 75—with an annual old age allowance of Rs 12,000 and free health check-up at home. 

Assuring efficient and swift service delivery in transparent manner at all 32 wards under the municipality, Shakya has promised to adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ policy to curb corruption. 

The metropolis has decided to waive the house construction permit fee for those residents whose homes were destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes. The reconstruction work on the quake-damaged Baghdurbar will be resumed immediately, Shakya said, while also emphasising on restoration of ward offices damaged by the earthquakes. 

The meeting also came up with a decision to give recognition to Nepal vasa (Newari language) as its official language along side Nepali.